A cobpobation of



I UNITED STATES PATENT orr oia WILLIAM H. MUZZY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Ass'IsnoR 'ro STEWART-WARNER SPEEDOMETER CORPORATION, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, a CORPORATION or VIRGINIA.

To all ichom it may concern: i i i a Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MozzY, a citizen "of the United States, 18S1d1ng at -iiiChicagoyin the, county; of. Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and I scription.

'fuel feeding systems for automobiles-or the This invention relates to improvements in like and has more particular relation to improvements in devices of the character shown and described in my Patent No. 1,201,077 is p p the tank suflicient gasolene-to prime the sued Oct. 10, 1916 and 'No. 1,222,235, issued April 10th,. 1917 and my copend'ing applica- I the vent after the tion 171,180, filed May 26, 1917 and reference is made to the above patents for any detail descriptions-not contained in the following specifications. i One of the several objects of the invention is to provide improved means in vacuum systems of the type mentioned for causing intermittent pumping by the employment of part of the-liquid as a sealing trap for the air vent. I

Another object of the invention is to pro.-

vide an improvedmeans for preventing the system overpumping and to arrest its pumping effectiveness when a eertain'level of the 1 liquid is reached. I

-A further object of the-invention is to prevent any overflow of the tank or loss of the fuel when a grade is descended'that brings the main gasolene tank. to a level above the top of the vacuum tank.

A further object is; to provide improved devices forpbstructing the flow of the liquid through the air vent and thus raise the vacuum in the vacuum or pumping chamber and prolong thepumping operation Without ob structiong the free passage of air through exhausted. I Another object is to more completely break up the particles of gasolene that pass through the air vent and form a spray or mist in" priming the tank at any time without opening it in any Way.

Another object is to provide means for Specification of Letters Patent.

trap and leave a sur the engine stops from the exhaustion of the tank because of a drain beyondthe capacity ofthetank.v

In carrying these andlotherpbjects of the I invention int-0 efi'ectI utilize certain constructions, combinations and "arrangements of parts all of which will be hereinafter more sealing liquid has beenf FUEL-FEEDING SYSTEM r0 AU OMOBILES.

- vide improved means for quickening'IQthe action of the tank so that more pumping operations will t ake place in a given period Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application filed December 10,1917. Seria1No.206,385, a

of time and a more uniform level of gasolene' keptin the tank against anyemergency such as high speed or a very steep grade when" the throttle willbe fully open and the efi'emtive vacuum greatly reduced, 1

A still further object of'thein'vention is to provide improved meansfor retaining in".

us forthe engine when 'par-ticularlyset forth and claimed." g c In the accompanying drawings "forming 180 verticalsee part of this specification;

Figure .1 represents alcentral tion through a vacuum fuel feeding tank and connections embodying my inventlon,

Fig. 2 represents a detail front elevation p of one of the flap1valveS,.and

Fig. 3 represents a detail vertical section of a modified form of obstruction forthe a t per end of the air vent.

' In general terms the invention-inlay .s aid to operate-by the vacuum created inthe manifold of the engine of the machine "and whichis transferred tofmy tank .to draw the supply at the rear of the machineglin intermittenti pumping operations as ,described gasolene from a relatively low-main fuel and shown in my aforesaid and reference is made tothe same for-an further description of this general operation desired. After being drawn into the elevated tank the gasolene' islet downinternlittently into a lower .compa'rtmentwhere it is held under atmospheric pressure and fed to the carbureter of the engine by gravity.

- In the aforesaid drawings 1 represents the outer tank or shell, 2 the vacuum tank or chamber, 3 the sealing cover of the same and 5 the air orvacuum connection for es-' tablishing communication between the tank I gine by any suitable piping.

l is ing lever 19'.

' tank 1. A cork packingring 22 'is interposed between the-cover "3 and the flange of the'tank2 to secure 'an' 'air, tight joint.

The fitting 5 is provided with a reducedsuction port 55'the size of which-may bepre viously determinedaccording tothe displacement of the engineandthe earbureter em- I I ployed, to givethe engine the most effective mixture for perfect operation at all times,

a the feed through the port.- 55 being coni 'stant. Inorder topreventany raw gasolene from being drawnz-v-intog the port 55 from the splash in the tank .2 a semi-cylin drical guard 56 is-secured' toythexunder side of the top 3-a-nd is open at each endso that i m the air may'freely'pass. The. fitting 5 is of 1 I course connected to the manifold of the en- The gasolenei drawninto the chamber'2jo through afitting 4 provided with av'stralner -26, aloek nut 25, a.valve seat 28 and valve 27, this latter being carried by a stem 14 which passes loosely through an operat The stem is provided withYlimiting 15 and '16 through which it :is caused tofol-ilow the movements of the lever 19 but is left free toseat properlyon the seat 28 when'the lever19 moves it intotheactive path of the incoming gasolene.v t o j p t 40 The lever 19 is pivoted to a lug'1 8 on the top 3 and is formed with a shoulder 17 for v limitingitsmovement in onedirection, .The. long end of this lever 19 supports a" cork float 6 which is pivotally connected tothe lever by an adjusting screw 21 having va fpivothead 20./ I a '3 When the gasolene inthe chamber 2 rises 'to its' maximum level the cork 6 operates the lever 19 and drawsthe valve 27 close. to its seat so that :it receives the impact of the inwardly rushing gasolene and seats itself with a snapping action. This action is assisted by v the valve being; thusfbrought more" closely influences howeveris to cause the closin of i I the valve with a" quiek snapping ram dikej action. f "a a After the valve closes as above described gasolene, continues to pass upthe air vent 7 until all the gasolene in'the trap is-exhausu ed when thejairgrushing up through this pipe, relieves the vacuum in the chaniber2 I and permits-theogasolene to flow by gravity, from the thamber through the pipes8 and 9.1

in the sealed top of ashallow hollow disk fitting 44; that also 'securesthe cup 40 inplace in the bottom of thetankl. The up- The pipe 8 is provided at its lower endwith a fiat flap valve 42 held loosely in position by headedvscrews 43oso thatit may move freely toward and away, from its seat under the influence of. the gasolene passing in opposite directions. This valve is old and fwellfkno'wn in the art and 'permitspassage of the gasolene in one direction only. 7 The ower end ofthe pipe 7 is provided with an inverted shell-36, which together 75.

, with a standpipe 37 forms a feeding siphon for conducting thegasolene from the lower part of the :tank 1 tothe lower end of the a I "pipe 7 and'thus'blockin this pipe against the passage of air to t e chamber ,2 and causing'the-vacuum to be established or raisedin the chamber and the pumping or Q ra sing of gasolene from the rear tank to be effected. The lower end of the pip 37 i Set -39. A standpipe 38 open atits topis simi-i larly set in the topof the disk 39.' -When a, v

thegasolenepasses down the standpipe 37 it fills the.lower end, of the standpi e and the hollowdisk 39 and cuts off the a1r that might enter through the pipe 38 and thus causes; solid gasolene'to pass up through the pipe 'After the trap is exhausted however and air passes under thelower end of the shell 36, sufficient gasolene islet down from the chamber2 to again seal the lower 7 end of the shell and as air can break 7 through the passage in the disk 39 and passes-through'the pipe 38v and up the pipe I 7 and permits the gasolene in the chamber 2 to descend until the siphon again pulls over and'the operation-is repeated. 7 l 1 05 The gasolene that flows down the pipe 9 and valve42 at its lower end passes into the .cup 40 and fills the same and overflows into thetankol't'o assist in raising the level for the operation of the siphon. This causes the siphon to operate rapidly as it is fed through two pipes instead of one and the cup 40 is always kept fullto give aconstanthead for the carbureter to which it' is connected by a Wardly extending end 41 of this fitting traps suflicient gasolene in the cup 40 to keep the v under the influence of the vacuum in the, 55 chamber The net result of the combined.

would more or. less if they fell back into a restricted pipe." a v The pet cock 45 is provided for draining water and sediment from the tank 1.

one which w ll icarry the level of the gasolene up to the top of the pipe 9 andthus ive sufficient head for the gasolene to again descend and fill the siphon. Thishead 1s leaves a slight vacuum 1n the chamber 2 which "must be overcome. The gasolene after passing throu h the restriction 31 strikes the under sideo an-inverted cup provided with an adjusting screw 29 which passesthrough the top 3. This cup causes the g'asolene to be thrown backuponitself and thus tends to' clog-the upper end of the pipe 7- and offer.

an additional resistance tothe pamageof the gasolene. This raises the vacuum in the 1 chamber 2 more rapidly andto a greater. ex-

tent and also throws the gasolene downward in an umbrella'flshaped spray that greatly 9 assists in saturating the air with fine particles of gasolene. The cup '30 serves the further purpose of closing the upper end of the pipe 7 when desired to cause the tank to pump gasolene without priming whenit is first started or under any other conditions that might require priming.

In the -mod1fied form shown in Fig.3 a movable obstruction for the upper end of the pipe 7 is shown. This consists of a valve 46 having a stem 48 and stops 49 and 50.

The .stem is mounted in an open yoke 51 V which is secured to the upper end of the pi e 7. The valve seat 47 is also secured in the upper end of the pipe 7 and the valve 46 is provided with a weighted portion 52. When the gasolene passes up through the pipe 7 it strikes the valve and forces it toward its seat but the stop 50 striking the yoke 51 halts the valve before it is fully seated and. leaves sufficient space for the gasolene to escape in reduced quantites. This results in raising the vacuum in the chamber 2 to a greater extent than if the valve were not present.

\Vhen gasolene has all passed up the pipe 7,

the air is not sufficient to support-the valve and it falls back by its own weight until arrested by the stop 49 engaging the upper side of the yoke 51. When the valve is in this position the air can pass freely out of the upper end of the pipe 7 and the vacuum in the chamber 2 reduced as desired. It will be understood that a ball check valve may be used instead of the valve 46 if desired.

In order to give the tank 1 atmospheric pressure air vents 32 and 33 are formed in necessary as the passage of air through'the' restriction 31 at,the top of the pipe 7 always the ring 54. Each of these vents is provided with a screw nipple 57, by-means of which and suitable couplings 58, two 34 respectively are attached. 1

The pipe 13 is coiled about the exhaustpipes 13 and pipe 12 of the-engine and is open atone .end'. Hot air is thus sup lied to the tank sist 1n vaporizing t gine through the suction pipe connecting the tank to the engine manifold. The tank.is also preferably located at some point 'in' proximity to the'engine so as to become heated thereby.

V The pipe 34 is connected in any suitable manner to the air space in the upper part of the radiator of the engine so that as the engine heats and hot vapors collect in this air space'they' will be drawn intothe tank mixed with the gas laden air and fed to the engine to assist in more perfect combustion and the elimination of carbon deposits. This is fed uniformly to the engine as the opening 55 is always open.

When the air pipe 7 clears the gasolene starts to descend and the float 6 passes down the suction created by the gasolene' in the pipe returning to the lower main tank as well as. under the influence of the weight of the e gasolene and giving'f'a more constant mixture to be fed to the enwith it relieving the valve 27 of any restraining influence and allowing it to open under It will be'seen from the foregoing that p when the valve or cut ofi 27 closes no more gasolene can. pass from the main tank to the vacuum tank and all chance of overflow is thus eliminated whether it be from suction in the chamber 2 or gravit when the main tank occupies'a position a ov e the vacuum tank on a steep grade.

It will also be observed that the cup 40 and its valve 42 and pipe 9 might be eliminated when the tank is to be used in such engines as have a sustained vacuum which never falls below an operative point. I The tank will operate perfectly without these.

parts provided the vacuum never falls so low, even on wide open throttle, as-to s, i drawing gasolene from the main tank? prefer to provide the tank however with these protective features as many machines on wide open throttle practically reduce the vacuum to a point where the tank stops pumping and'calls on its reserve to tide over that period. The reserve in the presenttank is the contents of the cup 40 and all the gasolane in the tank 2 above the upper end of the pipe 9. It will of course be understood that until the float 6 reaches its upper posi-' tion that the tank continues to pump full and complete operations or cycles limited only by the gasolene passing through the pipe 7 and that after it does approach its upper position itwill only cause the valve to cut off the feed of gasolene for part of a cycle. The tank under normal conditions operates with from six to eight cycles per minute pumping only the required quantity each time to replenish what had been used since the previous cycle. Within certain limits the frequency of these cycles can be increased according to the quantity of asolenepassing through the trap and the ead which it has. in falling to-the trap, so as to secure what for all-practical purposes is a continuous feed of gasolene from the main might be employed equally well, in fact that shown in Fig. 3 will also act inthis wayas when the liquid strikes againstthe yoke 51; it will be sprayed to each side, and the small amount passing form of a spurtmg 'et.

The connection 0 the tank to the radiator also provides against loss from the evaporation of the alcohol in winter use, as the radiator is sealed except for the pipe-34 and all the alcohol vapor is thus fed to the engineas a fuel. r

Itwill further b e'seen that either one or the other of the pipes 13 and 34:, or both may be omitted withoutaifecting the practical operation of the tank but I prefer their employment, as it renders the' tank more "efout. t t will also be observed that the pipes 13 and 34 could be combined and one pipe led from the radiator, then about the exhaust pipeand finally. to the tank. This would supply super-heated moist air to the tank but in this event the usual form of air .vent would left in the radiator as I do not wish to at an unrelieved ressure on the tank.

aving thus descri ed myinvention what "ters Patent is: n

. '1. In a fuel feeding system the combination with an elevated tank havinga vacuum chamber, of means discharging fuel from the chamber, a vacuum pipe connected to the chamber, a fuel supply pipe also connected to the chamber, a valve for this last connection seating to close in the direction of the inward flow of the fuel, and a float for positioning the valve to bring it under the influence of the inwardly flowing fuel.

2. In a fuel feeding system the combination with an elevated tank having a vacuum chamber, of means discharging fuel from the chamber,'a vacuum pipe connected to the chamber, a fuel supply-pipe also con-- while, I have the valve will assume the the carbureter.

chamber, a vacuum pipe connected to the,

chamber, a fuel supp y pipe also connected to the chamber,'a valve for closing this last by the momentum of the inflowingfu'el and mentioned connection moved to seat and close the atmospheric pressure thereon, and means i for moving the valve into and out of .the sphere of influence of the inflowing fuel.

4. In a fuel feeding system the combina- I it tion with an elevated tank having a vacuum chamber, of a vacuum pipe connected to the chamber, a fuel supply pipe also connected to the chamber, a supply chamber located to discharge into a trap chamber, connections from this supply chamber for the carbureter, acontrol or trap chamber located to discharge into the'supply chamber, independent means dischargmg from the vacuum chamber into the supply chamber and i: to thecontrol chamber, and an air vent for t 1e vacuum chamber controlled from the trap chamber. j i

5. In "a fuel feeding system the combinajtionwith an elevated tank having a vacuum chamber, of a vacuum pipe connected to the chamber, a fuel supply pipe also connected to the chamber, 'a trap chamber, an air vent for the vacuum chamber controlled from the the .vacuum chamber into the trap chamber,

an independent meansdischarging fuel into the trap chamber and also discharging fuel into connections for the carbureter, and con nections for the carburetor.

6. In a fuel feeding system the combination with. an elevated tank having a-vacu'uml chamber, of a vacuum pipe connected to the chamber, afuel supply pipe also connectedto the chamber, a valve for closing this last mentioned connection moved to seat and close by the incoming force of the fuel, a counterbalancing float in the vacuum chamber for moving the valve into and away from the active influence of the incoming fuel, and means for connecting the tank to 7. In a fuel feeding system the combiriation with an elevated tank having a vacuum.

chamber, of a vacuum pipe connected to the chamber, a fuel supply pipe also connected to the chamber, a valve for closing this last mentioned connection moved to seat and close by the force of the incoming fuel, a lever connected to the valve and a float connected to the lever to counterbalance the valve and move it into and out of the sphere of the active influence of the incoming fuel.

' chamber, of a vacuum pipe connected to the chamber,,a fuel supply pipe also" 'connected tothe chamber, a trap chamber, anga'irl vent for the vacuum chambcr controlled from the a a u ife ain the combina also conneoted to'the tank and an air supply 1 tion with an elevated-tank having avacuum;

' trap chamber, means connecting the vacuum I chamber, a fuel isupply pipe alsoconnected andfitrap chambers, and an "independent means for' closing thee, airivent'atlwill to cause the tank to pump, independently of, the trap. i i

9."In a f e1 feeding systemthe combinato the chamber, an "airyent for the chamber,

' a liquid seal for the air vent, meansfor feeding the fuel from the vacuum chamber, and

means for closing theair vent atthe willof the operator'and independently of the liquid. .usealto cause the tank to pump independent of the regular operation of pumping",

, 10. In a fuel feed'ng system the combina-v tionfl with an elevatedtank having a vacuum" Ichamber,fofa vacuum pipe connected to the chamber, a' fuel supply pipe also connected tothe chamber, a trap chamber,'an air vent.

connecting-the trap" and vacuum chambers,- means for spraying the vgasolene asit issues andv means for carburetor from the air'vent in the vacuum chamber,

""11, In a fuel feeding system thecombinay n tion with an elevated tank havinga vaciuun chamber, a fuelsupply pipe alsoconnected to the chamber, a-trap chamber, an air vent connecting the trap and vacuum chambers,

chamber, of a vacuum pipeconnected to the a restriction in the air vent in the vacuum chamber, and meansfor connecting the tank,

to the carbureter.

12. In a fuelfeeding system the combina- I tion with an elevated tank havin'g avaflcuumf chamber, of a vacuum pipe connect'ed to'the v chamber, a fuel supplyfpipe also connected to the chamber, a trap chamber, an air" vent connecting the trap and vacuum chambers,

fuel connection between the trap and vacuum; chambers for causing-continuous and comf plete pumping cycles and means in the, vacuum chamber for preventing'overflowiof I the same if the quantity of the fuel pumped 7. tank.

'f' exceeds; the quantity discharged from the .13. Ina fuel feeding system the wmbinaplying heated air to the'tank,

" .14. In as fuel feeding systemlthe combination with anelevated tank for pumping the 1 liquid fuel, ofa vacuum pi pefor connecting the the engine, a fuel supply pipe 1 V a a 'spaceof'theradiator'. connecting thetank to the] a heated portihnoffithe engine:

15. I a fuel fed'ng system he combina 1 I t i0n' withan1 elevated tank for; pumping the 7 01" l quld fuel,"-of a vacuum pipe-for oonnec't- "mg the tank tofithe engine,=-a fuelsupply:

pipe alsoconnected-to the tank, means for pipe for thetank,arranged forconn'ection to carbureting thefuel in the tank means for supplying heated air to thetankand means for connecting the tank to t'he carbureter 16. In a fuel-feeding system the combinat on with an elevatedtankfor pumping the liquld fuel, of a vacuum pipe for connecting tank .andfwill. be fed to the engine through the vacuum pipe i g W =17; In a fuel feeding system the combinationwith an engine having awater radiator 'connected thereto, offan elevated; tank-for pumping the liquid fuel, avacuum pipe coni necting the tank to the engine, a fuel supply'j'i pipe also connected to 'thetank, anair sup- I j ply pipe for'the tank attached'to a heated." part of the engine, and an independent'air supplypipe for the tank connected to the air 1 18. Ina fuel feeding system the combina- I tion with an engine having a water radiator connected thereto, of a tank for pumpingthe liquid fuel means for connecting the tank to the carbureter, a vacuum pipe for'eonnecb ing the tank to the engine,a fuel supply pipe for the tank, andimeans connectingl the tank to the engine and the radiator for in- ,troducing heated and moist air into the tank to befed through the vacuum pipe to the engine. f '19. In a fuelfeeding system the combination with an engine having a water radiator connected thereto, of a tankfor pumping the 3 fuel, means for connecting the, tank to the the tank, and an air supplyi pipe for the tank;v

reter, a vacuum pipe foreonnectingthe tank I .to the eng ne, a, fuel. supply pipe for the i tank, and a guard open tothe' vacuum ch-am-' ber at its opposite ends and closed at its sides for preventing the liquid fuel in the tank splashing up against the end of the vacuum pipe that enters the tank.

21. In a-fu'e-l feeding syste'n'r'the comb-ination with anelevated tank's-having a vacuum chamber, of a vacuum pipe connected to the chamber, a .fuel supply pipe also connected to the chamber, a trap chamber, an air vent for the vacuum chamber controlled from thef 11011,; :carbureter, a vacuum pipe for connecting the i a tank to the engine, a fuel supply pipe "for, 

